Cage for rolling bearings



Jan. 26, 1965 J. F HELMS CAGE FOR ROLLING BEARINGS Filed April 26, 1963 3,167,365 Patented Jan. 26, 1965 3,167,365 CAGE FOR ROLLING BEARINGS John F. Helms, Warminster, Pa., assignor to SKF Industries, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 275,864 18 Claims. (Cl. 308-217) This invention relates to a new and improved cage for rolling bearings adapted to guide the rolling elements in the rolling bearing assembly.

The case of the present invention is illustrated in connection with a cylindrical roller bearing assembly having cylindrical roller elements. Some cages for roller bearings comprise a pair of annular rings and a plurality of cross pieces which connects the rings in spaced apart relation and which are circumferentially spaced apart to define pockets for the roller -elements. Each of the cross pieces is provided with a pair of circumferentially directed projections or lugs approximately centrally thereof which extend into the pockets a predetermined amount so that the distance between confronting projections is slightly less than the diameter of one of the roller elements, thereby to limit radial displacement of the roller in one direction. In assembling a bearing employing this type of cage, the

cage isdisposed interiorly of the outer race ring and the roller elements are then inserted into the pockets.

deformation to form the projections or lugs resulting in f premature failureof the lugs during operation of the bearing. Additionally, the lugs are usually spaced close to the pitch circle of the set of rollers so that they may be made as small as possible and confronting lugs are spaced apart slightly less than the diameter of the roller elements to facilitate removal of the rollers past the lugs, for example, for replacement purposes. However, due to the method'of forming the lugs and by reason of the close disposition thereof to the pitch circle, it is difficult to provide a clearance between thelugs and roller elements which is sufliciently small and uniform to afford accurate control of roller drop such that assembly with the bearing inner ring is facilitated. Moreover, with the lugs disposed centrally of the roller elements, the rollers are not supported in a manner to prevent cocking or skewing which adds to the difficulty in assembling elements of the bearing assembly.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cage for rolling bearings which is of comparatively simplified construction so that it may be manufactured easily and economically and which has novel features of construction and arrangement whereby the bearingmay be assembled easily and quickly to provide an accurate support for the roller elements in a manner whereby roller drop may be controlled effectively. Moreover, the cage is designed so that it forms with the roller elements and one of the rings an integral unit. To this end, the cage of the present invention comprises a pair of annular members, a plurality of webs connecting the annular members in spaced apart relation which are circumferentially spaced apart to provide pockets for the roller elements and a clip member detachably secured between the annular members adjacent each of the webs. The clips are detachably secured between the annular rings of the cage and in the assembled cage are firmly located in a predetermined position by engagement of a centrally located tang depending from the webs, which cooperatively engages with each of the clips. This arrangement provides a rugged, rigid cage construction and one which is easy to assemble with the roller elements and the race rings. Moreover, the detachably mounted clips can be more precisely and uniformly spaced from the roller elements" and are disposed remote from the pitch circle of the set'of rollers thereby providing a more aaccurate control of roller drop. Further, the clips extend'the entire axial width of the pocket to provide an accurate support for the roller elements thereby minimizing cocking and skewing.

In the cage illustrated, the side faces of each of the webs converge radially toward the clips and, if desired, the distance between confronting faces of adjacent webs remote from the clips may be made less than the roller diameter to limit radial movement of the rollers in one direction;

the distance between confronting side edges of adjacent clips being spaced' apart less than the roller diameter to limit radial displacement of the rollers in thepockets in the opposite radial direction. By this arrangement, the rollers and cage form an integral unit.

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cage for a rolling bearingassernbly which is of comparatively simplified construction, is characterized by relatively few parts and is extremely economical to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide'a new and improved cage having novel features of construction and arrangement facilitating easy and quick assembly of a rolling bearing. 7

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide a cage for a rolling bearing assembly constructed so that the cage, rolling elements and one of the race rings form an integral unit.

A further object of the present invention is'to provide a cage for rolling bearings having novel features of construction and arrangement providing an extremely accurate control of rolling element drop in the bearing assembly and providing an accurate support for the rolling elements. q

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construc tion of a cage in accordance with the present invention are hereinafter more fully set forth with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a roller bearing assembly including a cage constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlargedsectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 c v FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views taken on lines 33 and 44 of FIG. 2, respectively; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion o the cage of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a portion of a rolling bearing assembly 10 including a cage 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated, the rolling bearing assembly 10 comprises inner and outer race rings 13 and 14 respectively, spaced apart to define an annular space 20 therebetween for the rolling elements 22. In the present instance the bearing assembly illustrated is a cylindrical roller hearing having cylindrical roller elements. In the present instance, the outer race ring 14 has a pair of radially inwardly projecting, circumferentially extending flanges 24 adjacent opposite axial ends thereof providing abutment shoulders 25 limiting axial movement of the roller elements 22. The cage 12 includes a pair of annular mem-' e acc brdanc egwithi than:

includes: a plu alitybgfelig elegn' ms 32" agafot which its,

extends axiallj of the cageadjacentp'ne of-lthe web 'of et -length greater lthan the distance -betweengthe innerconfronting faces o f the annular member's 26, so' that-it; U 'ma ybe-sprung intg place betweenvthel annillanmembers 26 With th e opposite ends theredf engaging 'in -confrqntingi circqmferentially extending grqdves in the annular members as iillnstrated matey-2.1 W

V --.atp1 edetermined circumferentially paced'l ocations,tpione'a ".1: l radial sidegofthewebuelementsfi hy nterengagingmeans :1 I the pairs ;.Of clips andpress.pieces-Including, in =the v fge a radially inwardlydepending'tangi34'ony-g eachpffthelwebelements -28 which engages:in a rectan.

e'senitfinventien', th cage l2. ischaracterized by no vel features of censtrueticnland' at rangement facilitating easyandquicl; assembly'pfthee1e-- '1 ments f the roller bearing. Tafthis' end the cage 1 2 hetclipls are retained 'bers 28 J The clip; elements lzf are preferably jmadelbf a I comparatiyelyw thin .flexible sheet material, such assteel l a nd as illlgstlrated, for example in F165,; each of the, clip 1 'elernent's32 is of generallyrectangular; confignratiqn and.

an accurate support for 1 tween the c11 5 elements; and he idler-elements thereby minimizing roller: drank Additionally; the axial extent for i the entire leng'th pfthe pbcketfof the clip elements assures e roller. elements: l preventing cocking or skewing thereqfig Eyen .th'qugh the cage ef,thejpresentginvention is illusg-tratecl inf'connectiOn with a single rew, cylindrical roller bearinggritist' :be underst' ddfthatdt may be usedwith,

bther types io f bearing assemblies.

Q-WhiIe particular embodiments Of'the" present invention havebeen'fillustrated anddescribe'd herein; it is to be understo'nd that' changes; and modifications rnay b'e made therein withinvtlie scene of the followingclaims, I v 7 I claim; 1

- comprisinga pair of annular rnembersg a; plurality. of axial gularbpening 36 in thee H1932. {ltisnoidithat the transfl ver s e' dimension .T oftli'ef ofienin g 36'isselectively chdsen v s0 that theltangi-l l'frictionally,engagesLtheQsideledges qii .the pe'ning'f 36 to minimize lateral 'moyernent qfgthe clip elements 32in thtassemhledcagfi f A i l in S bIin a-b i n b ihs' a f construction in accordance with' the present invent-inn, thef cage without the clipsp32 assembled,theretqisdisposed V interiorlyof therouter race, ring 14,- Thereafter, the pollen aip ie ting"rad a y said clip {elements in:

elements 22 arepositicneddn'the' packets '30 from the interiqr of thecage. A clip 'fiz is',; then-sprung'intoiplace adjacent the web velements 2fiion 'eithen side of the first}; er leme t lp s on he i'al lZ h Y M roller element 22 is retained inrthe pocketi against radial- I movementin both directions, l The remaining, roller me i ments ZZQaIe'then inserted i'ntc their respective-pockets either; side;- Qfjthe first assembled rqller element 22 and ip edd d-u n s mb yh e ch s g p m toilet elements; By this arrangernent,thejcuter' rac ring 14, cage 12s-and roller elements "22 form aniinteg ral'gnnit which may'thenlhe assembledto the innenr ace ringjia. a It is noted that inbealjing assemblies where neither of V the race rings-has radially projecting ;flanges, .;the roller; 7 I elements may be'assemhledtc the cage andiorm'therewith --an integral unitiwhich may then be assembledlto the-inner and outerrace ringsl Icfthisfend; the'tweb' elements 2 8,:'f which r shaped. iq p s li ivo iir ayi n; th I present instance radially inwardly. c:onvel ginggtabetedside, ie ;;m;i i *f0tmd that V "tween confrontingfaces-dtlgtovthe de e bppq i e ip 1i l y l s th n he d am n fr he roller .elerigientsiQtQlimit fdutwa'rd radial displacement of" th foller el me teaa e ips 132' i t n displacement-of the roller elements.

I y Asillustrated-tor example in .a;es;j2;h d aime :en

thereby-minimizingcocking-orskewing thereof;

'amems 3 are positionedreInQte fr m thepitchflcircle C v ofthe set of rollers and theis'ide edges "of the clip element-s a 32 are spacedasmall distanceg'from -the'perinhery'VOf-the l roller elementsvllg .By thisfianangementi inward' 'radialj displacement-pf the-roller elements gz'is maintainedfatla minimum thereby facilitating assenflbl-y of the roller; elej; VmentslZZ andgcage' 12 the race rings; Further,- the 'cl-ip element s 32 extend the-entire axial length of thepQckets 3010 p'r ovi'defian accuratesupport -for the roller :eleme ts inward radal,

f-Frmfn thetfdregbingg, ,itmay. be seen that,v the-present inventib'n providesan; improvedf' V f H b i g v which is eha'racter-ize'd bynovel featnresefi construction: and arr-angmentflfacilitating easy ,and quick' assembly.- f theyarious elements ofthegbearing' assembly; jMore'Qver;

the manner; in. which the 'cliii elements are retained in? the ,c a'ge inja positien remotei 'from:the pitch circle'cf the} set of igllers, prqvides io'r aunilfo'rni minimum; clearancelb Secti 61A 'cage for the rqllin L etszf fcpr the fo lling v me an sjdetachablyi on l the anfn' fside I pf athe pitch citcle' cf the setof rolling elements", a;

' clip. element clisgnsedi adjacent: each'f of: the cross piecefelev lign'ed generally axially therewith',lj interengaging meanslcdnnectil'lg. the clip' and cfo ssipieceelements of V 'eac h fpaiiq off clip mt cross; piecejelement's' td ldcate the clip elementsfin lsaidpred'etermined jqlsitipnyadjicent clip mentsranda 'e a med' in? m; la h i Sai o I '4 re dispq sed radiall inwardlyidf-the-pitch cirele'ofth'e set of rollingel'ements.

knqzzmbeisgin a {predetermined -pnsition at-pne elements.;.b,eing circumferentially; spaced apart tn provider a. spaceftherjebetween; which.' is 'les s than-the maximum diameter loi'p'ne; of the l'rollin'gbel ements to: limit displace "ment oftherollingelements in one radialdirectiOn-Q J A cage las;;clai medin claimafiwhereinsaid clinch Of'the setgof'rnllinggelements}. ,fl j

e'd-i'in claim -6 including means defments are disp sedragially inwardl'y j of the pitch circle fining a cincnmferentially extendinggrpove iin'theconfront-.

L ing faces offeach oi'the-'annlila .membe'rsvwithin which mossv n Qfisaid tang 1 generally r'ectangula 'r land: the" Open- 1 ing in eachqof; saidc ip elementsiis als rectangular; to accommodate.saidQtang, 1 V L s V onfmmagi mav f n the confrcnting side;iacesiqffthe annillar rnemberslwithin whichthe' uterL'ends ofi'said.. clip'elements are'engaged. v

jelements cf rgllingvbearingl,

nec tinglf tlie annular; members cnmferentiallyto define peckents; plnralirtyof clip elements,; nectingl fthe clip" elements between ements v has Fradia'lly {extending side faces:

which converge toward the clip elements whereby confronting side faces of said cross piece elements remote from said pitch circle to the side thereof opposite said one side are spaced apart a distance less than the maximum diameter of one of the rolling elements to limit displacement of the rolling elements in the radial direction opposite said one radial direction.

10. A cage for the rolling elements of a rolling bearing, comprising a pair of annular members, a plurality of cross piece elements connecting the annular members which are spaced apart circumferentially to define pockets for the rolling elements, a plurality of clip elements, means detachably connecting the clip elements between the annular members in a predetermined position at one side of the pitch circle of the set of rolling elements, a clip element being disposed adjacent each of the cross piece ele- 7' elements are disposed radially inwardly of the pitch circle of the set of rolling elements.

12. A cage as claimed in claim 10 including means defining a circumferentially extending groove in the confronting faces of each of the annular members within which the outer ends of the clip elements are engaged.

13. A cage as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said cross piece elements has radially extending side faces which converge toward the clip elements whereby confronting side faces of said cross piece elements remote from said pitch circle to the side thereof opposite said one side are spaced apart a distance less than the maximum diameter of one of the rolling elements to limit displacement of the rolling elements in the radialdirection opposite said one radial direction.

14. In bearing assembly comprising inner and outer rings spaced apart to define an annular space therebetween, a plurality of rolling elements in the annular space between the rings, the improvement of a cage for gmiding the rolling elements in the annular space comprising a pair of annular members in the annular space, a plurality tit of cross piece elements connecting the annular members which are spaced apart circumferentially to define pockets for the rolling elements, a plurality of clip elements, means detachably connecting the clip elements between the annular members atone side of the pitch circle of the set of rolling elements, a clip element being disposed adjacent each of said cross pieces and aligned axially therewith, interengaging means connecting the clip element and cross piece element of each of said pairs of clip elements and cross piece elements to locate said clip elements in predetermined position relative to said cross piece elements, adjacent clip elements being circumferentially spaced apart to provide a space therebetween which is less than the maximum diameter of one of the rolling elements to limit displacement of the rolling elements in one direction.

15. A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein said clip elements are disposed radially inwardly of the pitch circle of the set of rolling elements.

16. A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14 including means defining a circumferentially extending groove in the confronting faces of each of theannular members within which the outer ends of the clip elements are engaged.

17. A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said cross piece elements has radially extending side faces which converge toward the clip elements whereby confronting side faces of said cross piece elements remote from said pitch circle to the side thereof opposite said one side are spaced apart a distance less than the maximum diameter of one of the rolling elements to limit displacement of the rolling elements in the radial direction opposite said one radial direction.

18. A bearing assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the interengaging means comprises an opening in each of the clip elements and a tang projecting from each of the cross' piece elements engageable in the opening in the clip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,176 11/32 Young 308--217 1,940,124 12/33 Gibbons 308-217 2,457,485 12/48 Newton 308-217 3,050,353 8/62 Bratt 308217 3,087,762 4/63 Gothberg 308-217 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CAGE FOR THE ROLLING ELEMENTS OF A ROLLING BEARING, COMPRISING A PAIR OF ANNULAR MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF AXIAL CROSS PIECES CONNECTING THE ANNULAR MEMBERS WHICH ARE SPACED APART CIRCUMFERENTIALLY TO DEFINE POCKETS FOR THE ROLLING ELEMENTS, A CLIP ELEMENT BETWEEN THE ANNULAR MEMBERS IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION RADIALLY TO ONE SIDE OF EACH OF SAID CROSS PIECES, MEANS DETACHABLY SECUING SAID CLIP ELEMENTS BETWEEN THE ANNULAR MEMBER, MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING IN EACH OF SAID CLIP ELEMENTS, A TANG PROJECTING RADIALLY FROM EACH OF SAID CROSS PIECES ENGAGEABLE IN SAID OPENING IN THE CLIP ELEMENT TO LOCATE EACH OF SAID CLIP ELEMENTS IN A PREDETERMINED POITION, ADJACENT CLIP ELEMENTS BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED APART TO PROVIDE A SPACE THEREBETWEEN WHICH IS LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF ONE OF THE ROLLING ELEMENTS TO LIMIT DISPLACEMENT OF THE ROLLING ELEMENTS IN ONE RADIAL DIRECTION. 